Best Internet Providers in Indianapolis, Indiana
Our Experts
- 2013 Media Award Winner Issued by Press Club Long Island
What is the best internet provider in Indianapolis?
Based on its availability within the city, fast speeds and decent value, our pick for the best internet service provider in Indianapolis goes to AT&T Fiber. While many in the city will have access to AT&T’s fiber internet, some neighborhoods might have to settle for cable internet through Spectrum or 5G internet from Verizon.
For those needing a low cost plan or the fastest speeds in Indy, we've also found those top choices. Xfinity offers the cheapest service in the area, costing $20 per month for download speed up to 75 megabits per second. AT&T Fiber wins the race for the speediest plan, offering 5 gigabits for $250 monthly.
Our methodology
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Indianapolis across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers' terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your options is to plug your address into a provider's website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider's pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the text is specific to what's available in Indianapolis. The prices referenced within this article's text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month -- a standard industry offering. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in Indianapolis, Indiana
Spectrum
Best cable internet in Indianapolis, IN
Our take - Spectrum excels where it matters: It offers clear pricing and terms. If you like simplicity, Spectrum is worth considering.
AT&T Fiber
Best internet provider in Indianapolis, IN
Our take - AT&T’s fiber internet offering packs a lot of value for the price. With an average cost per Mbps at just 10 cents, it’s no wonder our best fiber providers page called it a terrific value “hard to pass up.”
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Best fixed wireless in Indianapolis, IN
Our take - If you’re an existing Verizon mobile customer, getting your internet through the company can be a heck of a deal if it’s available to you.
Indianapolis internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Fiber Read full review | Fiber | $55-$250 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
AT&T Home Internet Read full review | DSL | $55 | 10-100Mbps | None | 1.5TB | None | 7.4 |
| Hoosier Broadband | Fixed wireless/Fiber | $50-$100 | 10-20Mbps | None | None | 2 years | N/A |
|
Spectrum Read full review | Cable | $50-$90 | 300-1,000Mbps | Free modem; $5 router | None | None | 7.2 |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50 ($30 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
|
Xfinity Read full review | Cable | $20-$100 | 75-2,000Mbps | $15 (optional) | 1.2TB | None | 7 |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Indianapolis
- Earthlink: With the largest customer reach of any wired ISP, Earthlink piggybacks off other networks to connect its customers. It offers a good variety of speeds, starting at 100Mbps and going up to an impressive 5,000Mbps, with prices ranging from $60 to $190.
- Hoosier Broadband: This regional carrier services some areas of Indianapolis (city center and north) and its surrounding regions. It offers fixed wireless and fiber, based on the customer’s address.
- Satellite internet: Of course, satellite internet from HughesNet, Viasat or Starlink is an option wherever you live. It shouldn’t be your first pick -- with high prices and slow speeds, cheaper and faster options are available.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: Some Indy residents (mostly in the north and east of the city) may have access to 5G internet from T-Mobile. T-Mobile’s home internet service is available for $50 (or $30 for eligible mobile customers) and offers speeds up to 245Mbps.
- Xfinity: The biggest name in cable only services a small section of Indianapolis around the city’s center and surrounding regions. The company offers speeds ranging from 75 to 2,000Mbps, with prices topping at $100. Just mind the 1.2TB data cap.
Cheap internet options in Indianapolis
If you want to get the most affordable internet plan in Indianapolis, Xfinity has a 75Mbps plan for $20 a month. Providers like Verizon and T-Mobile offer discounts to eligible mobile customers, meaning your monthly bill might only cost $30-$35.
Most providers we've mentioned also participate in the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program, which gives eligible low-income households a $30 monthly discount (or up to $75 for households on tribal lands) for high-speed internet. You can use the ACP toward any internet plan -- not just the cheapest ones -- from participating providers.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Indianapolis?
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Xfinity Connect Read full review | $20 | 75Mbps | $15 (optional) |
|
Spectrum Internet Read full review | $50 | 300Mbps | $5 (optional) |
|
T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($30 with eligible mobile plan) | 245Mbps | None |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review | $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plan) | 300Mbps | None |
| Hoosier Broadband | $50 | 10Mbps | None |
|
AT&T Home Internet Read full review | $55 | 100Mbps | None |
|
AT&T Fiber 300 Read full review | $55 | 300Mbps | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Indianapolis
The best internet deals and top promotions in Indianapolis depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Indianapolis internet providers, such as Spectrum and Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many providers, including AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Photo by Sir Francis Canker Photography/Getty Images
How fast is Indianapolis broadband?
With median download speeds of about 213Mbps, according to Ookla’s list of internet speeds in the nation’s 100 most populous cities, Indy sits in the middle of the pack, ranking at 68th. Fortunately for residents of Hoosier City, there are many broadband choices when it comes to connecting to the internet. Major internet service providers like AT&T, Xfinity, Spectrum, T-Mobile and Verizon operate in the city, although they won’t all be available to every neighborhood.
Ready to zoom around the (internet) speedway? AT&T has the fastest hookup with its 5,000Mbps plan. If you don't need to go that fast, you can opt for plans from multiple providers that offer gigabit download speeds.
Fastest internet plans in Indianapolis
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AT&T Fiber 5000 Read full review | $250 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
AT&T Fiber 2000 Read full review | $150 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Xfinity Gigabit X2 Read full review | $100 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | None | Cable |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Extra Read full review | $85 | 1,200Mbps | 50Mbps | 1.2TB in some areas | Cable |
|
AT&T Fiber 1000 Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | Fiber |
|
Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review | $90 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | None | Cable |
|
Verizon 5G Home Internet Plus Read full review | $70 ($45 with eligible mobile plan) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None | Fixed wireless |
|
Xfinity Gigabit Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | 1.2TB in some areas | Cable |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Indianapolis
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it's impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. What's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they're paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Indianapolis?
With decent availability and high value in terms of speed for the price, most of Indianapolis is well served by AT&T’s hard-to-beat fiber internet. For residents of certain parts of the city, other choices include cable, 5G and satellite.
Which is the best internet service provider in Indianapolis?
Given its low cost per Mbps -- CNET calls it a “terrific value” -- and its wide availability in the city, we’re giving the nod to AT&T’s fiber internet offering. The company gets high marks on customer satisfaction surveys and offers a variety of options in terms of price and speed.
Is fiber internet available in Indianapolis?
Yes. AT&T and Earthlink (using AT&T's network) offer fiber internet in Indy. There's decent availability, too -- nearly half of all residents should be able to access those plans.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Indianapolis?
Xfinity offers a 75Mbps plan at $20 a month for the first 24 months, making that the cheapest way to connect to the internet by far. If you want to save even more money, bring your own equipment: Xfinity charges $15 monthly to rent its gateway device.
Which internet provider in Indianapolis offers the fastest plan?
AT&T Fiber offers 2,000 and 5,000Mbps plans in Indianapolis for $150 and $250 monthly, respectively.
Home Internet Guides
- Sometimes a provider is available in your Zip code, but not at your exact address
- See what exact plans are available at your home
